KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JULY 06: Jac Caglianone #14 of the Kansas City Royals hits an RBI single against the Philadelphia Phillies during the seventh inning at Kauffman Stadium on July 06, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Amy Kontras/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Yesterday, Royals 1st baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone announced he will partake in the Home Run Derby next week.
One of the best young sluggers in the game is taking his powerful left-handed swing to Citizen Bank Park next week.
Jac Caglianone on Wednesday announced his decision to participate in Monday’s T-Mobile Home Run Derby in Philadelphia, airing live on Netflix.
Caglianone will be participating in his first Home Run Derby, and will be the Royals’ first participant since Bobby Witt Jr. blasted 50 homers as the 2024 Derby runner-up in Texas. Witt was named the American League’s starting shortstop for the All-Star Game this year and will be in Philly along with right-hander Michael Wacha to cheer on Caglianone — who will have his father, Jeff, pitch to him. Jeff told his son that his arm is ready to go.
The Royals fell apart in the 8th last night, losing 6-2 in Queens, after Alex Lange refused to get the last out of the inning
“It was a totally different game than yesterday and the pitching was dominating,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said.
Bobby Witt Jr. was picked as the team’s best draft pick in the last decade.
Seven years after he went second overall to Kansas City, Witt has become the no-doubt face of the franchise and will remain so for a long time after signing an 11-year, $288.8 million contract extension in February 2024. (The deal could push to 14 years with options.) After early inconsistencies on both sides of the game, the shortstop has become one of baseball’s best five-tool talents and particularly stands out for his power and speed with exit velocities and sprint speeds that rank among the best in the Majors. He should be in the AL MVP discussion for a long time to come.
The Royals have relocated where their draft room is.
Here are the Royals latest transactions and injury updates.
Tyler Tolbert just made MLB history, but should he get more opportunities going forward? Kevin O’Brien gives his thoughts
Noah Cameron has a great curveball, but he needs to find another pitch to get hitters out.
Pete Crow-Armstrong is unbelievably hot at the plate currently
Dylan Cease was three outs from a no-hitter yesterday
The Miami Marlins are the hottest team in baseball currently
Mike Trout came back from the IL and promptly homered
Justin Verlander named All-Star, via legends pick, will retire after this season
Today’s song of the day is Home Sweet Home by Motley Crue
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JULY 8: Slade Cecconi #44 of the Cleveland Guardians reacts to a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the second inning at Target Field on July 8, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Guardians and the Minnesota Twins had a back and forth battle that carried a tie into the ninth inning. Slade didn’t go deep in the game, resulting in the bullpen to be nearly emptied. It was compounded with the pitching staff giving up eight walks and Tim Herrin being hit on the back of his throwing elbow.
Zack Meisel did report that Herrin’s x-ray is negative, but it was very obvious that Herrin was in a lot of pain when he was leaving the game.
The Guardians ultimately lost as the Twins walked it off. The full recap is available on the front page.
Somehow, despite not having played in weeks, José Ramírez is still leading in Outs Above Average. But, quickly climbing the leaderboard is one Daniel Schneemann.
Quincy took a look at Kyle Manzardo and the situation he currently is in as a hitter.
Matt Dallas gave a quick scout on the top pitchers available in the upcoming draft.
Lets Go Former Guards
Will Benson cleared waivers and was outrighted to Louisville.
Stuart Fairchild was picked up by the Mariners on a minor league deal.
Two familiar names will be joining the Mets. Xzavion Curry and Tobias Myers have been promoted to the Mets’ major league roster.
Around the League (And Beyond)
Justin Verlander has announced that he will be retiring after this season. This announcement came out shortly after it was announced that Verlander would be the Legend Pick for this year’s All-Star Game.
DENVER , CO - MAY 18: Willi Castro (3) of the Colorado Rockies gets the putout on a ball hit by Brandon Nimmo (24) of the Texas Rangers during the third inning at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado on Monday, May 18, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) | Denver Post via Getty Images
The first thing people learn about Willi Castro the baseball player is usually that he can play practically anywhere on the field. When asked back in April how many different gloves he has Castro said, “I have plenty with me. I think I probably have, like, 10 of them right now, and I’ve got way more back at home. But I’ll be prepared. I’ll be prepared for anything.”
As it turns out, he’s needed to use most of those gloves.
In his half season for the Rockies, Castro has played six(!) different positions. The only spots he hasn’t yet played in a game in 2026 are right field, catcher, and pitcher.
Between all of the positions he’s played, he’s accrued -2 Defensive Runs Saved and an identical -2 Outs Above Average this season. That’s not horrible, but on its face, that makes him a below-average defender.
It’s possible that if Castro were asked to dedicate his time all to one position, his trackable defensive performance would increase. Does that mean he’d be more valuable to the team sticking to his primary position of second base? Warren Schaeffer doesn’t seem to think so.
“It’s hard to put into words how helpful he’s been to this team,” Schaeffer said, “just the ability to in game make matchup moves to better our chances to win because you can put him somewhere else in the field defensively, and himself just being the switch hitter, and what he actually does defensively and offensively, it’s been incredible.”
Castro will move anywhere he’s asked to go, as a result he has been asked to move around a ton.
In total, Schaeffer has tasked Castro with changing positions mid-game 37 times so far this season. The value of that flexibility is hard to pin down. It’s likely not a significant difference in terms of wins, but at the same time, it’s probably not inconsequential.
Using the eye test, it’s easy to see what the defensive metrics are indicating about Castro’s glovework. No matter where he is on the field, Castro does not make fielding look particularly smooth.
Castro takes a slightly odd route to the ball and then hesitates when he reaches the warning track while deciding how to play the wall. Even after taking that moment to plan, he proceeds to bobble the ball off the bounce… only to recover quickly with a grab and a nice throw.
Most dedicated left fielders would have gotten the same end result as Castro, he just took different steps to reach that result than they would have.
Most of the time, his athleticism and instincts make up for a lack of consistent repetitions at any given position. Nothing exemplifies this more than this play against the Texas Rangers from May 20th:
A dedicated second baseman perhaps would not have ventured as far into the outfield as Castro did because they’d have had a better sense of where their realistic range would extend to. Additionally, being distracted while figuring out where he was on the field in relation to the runners was enough to, again, cause him to bobble the pickup of the ball. Despite all of the mishaps to start the play, Castro was able to rely on a combination of audacity and tools to gun down Jake Burger attempting to advance to second.
That’s the sort of play that you just don’t see from most other players. With Castro on the field — anywhere on the field — you get to see slightly unorthodox “out of position” type plays most nights.
Of all the spots Castro has been asked to play this season, none are more unfamiliar to him than first base. According to Castro back in April, “It was in spring training when I started playing. (It was) my first time playing first base in the game.” With this inexperience, he doesn’t always present the typical statuesque target for other infielders to toss to. Sometimes he’ll misread an incoming throw and make a catch look much harder than someone like TJ Rumfield would have.
On the flipside, he throws himself at every batted ball in a way that most regular first baseman simply aren’t capable of.
That’s not the sort of quick reaction leaping grab that the typical power-hitting first baseman comes close to achieving. Some probably don’t even attempt it. Castro, on the other hand, flung his body with wild abandon at the ball, just like he would have anywhere else on the field.
For good measure let’s also look at a play that combines all the things that make Castro so memorable on defense:
That should have been a double. Castro had a quick reaction to get himself into a slightly awkward catching position, then managed to adjust and put himself in a weird crouched position before scuttling back onto his feet and getting the out with his 79th percentile arm strength.
That’s the ideal version of what he does literally anywhere Shaeffer puts him all wrapped up in one play.
What all of this comes down to is that while Castro is probably not anyone’s first choice to play any specific position — because he has a knack for making plays look more complicated than they needed to be — he is perhaps, the second choice to play everywhere.
That’s exactly why the Rockies signed him and he has delivered in stride. That stride may look a little wonky or cause his helmet to fly off, but he’s proven in his short time on this team that he will make it work. When asked last week whether he had a favorite position to play, Castro summed up everything he brings to this ballclub better than I ever could: “I just like to be in the field. I just like to play. Wherever they’re gonna put me, I will get the job done.”
It’s very possible Castro’s time in purple will come to an end by the trade deadline at the start of August. His two-year deal indicates that the front office should be shopping his services around the league. That being said, keeping him would make the looming roster puzzle of filling easier as he could fill in for almost anyone who is traded. The combination of that versatility and his below average surface stats could mean the Rockies see more value in him than other teams will.
However long Castro remains with the team it’s worth appreciating the spectacle he brings to each and every game.
This was what qualifies as a pitchers duel in the PCL. For the Isotopes Jake Brooks took the ball and threw six innings, allowed only six hits, and struck out six. That resulted in only three runs which was enough to earn him the loss even before Jeff Criswell relieved him in the seventh and allowed an additional two runs (one earned).
At the plate the Isotopes were stymied by good Space Cowboy pitching performances. Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) worked a couple walks but was the only player in the lineup to be on base more than once. Jordan Beck’s homer in the seventh drove in the only two runs of the game for Albuquerque.
Connor Staine pitched pretty well to start this game with five innings of one-run ball, and the lineup as a whole was very successful (they had twenty one hits), but it would be a disservice to focus on anything other than Jose Torres.
Torres got the start at third base batting ninth. He then proceeded to reach base all five times he came to the plate on two walks and three hits. That’s not all! A couple of those hits were home runs. All told Torres scored three runs and drove in four to lead the Yard Goats to a convincing victory.
Everett Catlett did not have a good night on the mound and Spokane never had a chance to catch up from that poor start. In the end, Catlett allowed eight runs, all earned, on ten hits and three walks over only four innings of work. In the remaining four innings, the bullpen only allowed another two runs but the damage was already done.
The lineup showed a bit more life with a combined eight hits and eight walks. Of particular note were Roynier Hernandez and Jacob Hinderleider who each reached base three times. Easily the best performance of the night for the Indians, however, was Tanner Thach who walked, doubled, and hit a solo home run.
In a strikingly similar line to Catlett for Spokane, Ethan Cole started the game for Fresno by allowing eight runs over four and two thirds innings. The Grizzlies, however, were able to fight back and go into the top of the ninth having tied the game up eight to eight thanks to three and a third scoreless innings from Manuel Olivares and Seth Clausen keeping the score where it was.
After finding themselves in that early deficit, the Grizzlies clawed back by scoring in four separate innings. Leading the way in the lineup were Jesus Freitez and Derek Bernard with two doubles apiece, Wilder Dalis (No. 24 PuRP) with four hits (including a double), and Roldy Brito (No. 11 PuRP) with a pair of hits and stolen bases.
Ultimately, despite the heroics, it wasn’t enough as the Ports would walk it off on a sacrifice fly from Cesar Gonzalez in the bottom of the ninth.
The final score hides how well the DSL Colorado starting pitcher Juan Villamizar performed. In five innings, Villamizar allowed two runs on only five hits (including a home run) and no walks. The Colorado bullpen did not fair nearly as well, which led to a deluge of runs for the DSL Nationals, but five of those runs were unearned as a result of a throwing error by Jendry Guaraco.
Luckily, the offense was not one-sided as DSL Colorado managed nine runs on ten hits and three walks. Of particular note were leadoff hitter Larry Suero and cleanup leftfielder Luis Morejon who each were on base three times and each had a double.
Mark Knudson offers his take on where the Rockies priorities should be heading into the trade deadline on August 3. Knudson posits that the Rockies should not be swayed into short-term thinking by a hot June and should remain focused on the long-term vision for the organization. For him that means identifying a winning core and swapping everyone else for higher upside young talent.
With the first draft for the Rockies under the Paul DePodesta and Josh Byrne regime set to start this weekend, Thomas Harding takes a look at their priorities and methodology. The influx of new front office personnel hope to bring a more consistent success rate to their drafting track record. They aren’t, however, ready to fully reveal exactly what they are looking for in players just yet.
There has been hum of talk around the league for the past few weeks about the spike in offense that began around the start of June. There has been speculation that changes to the baseball are to blame. Bradley Woodrum of Baseball Prospectus does not refute the possibility of that being a factor, but he dives into how the overall picture is complicated by the record heatwave gripping much of the country.
Plenty has been written below about Matthew Boyd’s stellar performance Tuesday night. Not much was made about the team effort from the offense in the 5-2 game. Not a lot of glitz, but it needs to be mentioned.
Alex Bregman, PCA, Dansby Swanson and Miguel Amaya each had two hits in the game. Bregman, PCA and Swanson all had at least an RBI (Bregman had two). Amaya scored three of the five runs. Michael Busch walked twice and had an RBI-sacrifice fly.
PCA has a seven-game hit streak going (with four multi-hit games). Bregman is quietly producing, having hits in five-of-seven games (three multi-hit) with seven RBI in that period. Swanson is also five-of-seven with four multi-hit games. Amaya has very quietly had a hit in six-of-11 games (three multi-hit). He scored in four of those games, two runs once and three twice.
A couple of honorable mentions: Since a four-game hitless string in May, Busch has had at least one hit in 29 of the last 47 games (62 percent). Unfortunately, that hasn’t led to many runs scored or RBI yet, but he’s putting himself out there to be driven in. And Nico Hoerner, who went 1-for-4 with a single, stolen base and run scored, has hit safely in eight of his last nine games.
That was all to say — while it’s fun to watch a guy play out of his mind for a week or two, it’s these quiet, unspectacular, yet steady, levels of production team-wide that helps consistent winners.
And helps pitchers like Boyd feel comfortable enough to pitch six scoreless innings, strand five runners and strikeout seven. It looks like he’s back — just stay healthy, please.
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Tyler Edmunds (OnTapSportsNet): It’s Now Or Never For Jed Hoyer And The Chicago Cubs. “For the last few seasons, we’ve heard the same old spiel from Jed Hoyer around this time of year. “Well, we’ll wait and see what happens these next few weeks,” in reference to whether he plans to make any moves by the annual trade deadline. Jed CANNOT do that this season.“
Cory Sparks (North Side Baseball): 3 Affordable Pitchers Who Just Might Save the 2026 Cubs. “We know the Cubs have already fired most of their bullets when it comes to spending and prospect capital. We also know they still need pitching help. Who fits through the eye of the needle they’re trying to thread?”
Tyler Courtney (LastWordOnSports): Is Kevin Alcántaras Usage in 2026 Becoming a Concern for Chicago? “Alcántara has often been in the Cubs’ afterthoughts, and now it has become a major concern not only for the rest of 2026 but potentially for the future of the team as well.”
Alex or Aleck Miller (originally Ford, possibly December 5, 1912 – May 24, 1965), known later in his career as Sonny Boy Williamson, was an American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter. Miller used various names, including Rice Miller and Little Boy Blue, before calling himself Sonny Boy Williamson, which was also the name of a popular Chicago blues singer and harmonica player. To distinguish the two, Miller has been referred to as Sonny Boy Williamson II.
Beginning in the 1930s, he traveled around Mississippi and Arkansas and encountered Big Joe Williams, Elmore James and Robert Lockwood Jr. He was also associated with Robert Johnson during this period. Miller developed his style and raffish stage persona during these years. In 1941, Miller was hired to play the King Biscuit Time show, where they began billing Miller as Sonny Boy Williamson, apparently in an attempt to capitalize on the fame of the well-known Chicago-based harmonica player and singer Sonny Boy Williamson.
In 1949, Williamson relocated to West Memphis, Arkansas, and lived with Howlin’ Wolf. He started his own KWEM radio show from 1948 to 1950. He brought his King Biscuit musician friends to West Memphis—Elmore James, Houston Stackhouse, Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup, Robert Nighthawk, and others—to perform on KWEM radio. Williamson married Howlin’ Wolf’s half-sister Maggy and he showed Wolf how to play harmonica.
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
Cale Makar is going to get paid. The only question is how much.
Now eligible for a contract extension, the Colorado Avalanche are preparing for one of the most important negotiations in franchise history. Makar has earned a massive raise, but putting a number on that deal is far more complicated than simply looking at the latest superstar contract around the NHL.
The salary cap is rising. Elite players are pushing the boundaries of what contracts can look like. And every new blockbuster deal creates another talking point in Makar’s negotiation.
But Colorado cannot approach this extension by chasing the market. It has to approach it by protecting its future.
The biggest argument surrounding Makar’s next contract is that every major deal signed around the league only makes him more expensive. The longer the Avalanche wait, the more leverage Makar gains, and the higher the price climbs.
That logic makes sense on the surface.
But NHL contracts are rarely that simple.
A player's value is not determined by the last contract signed. It is shaped by timing, team circumstances, positional importance, negotiating leverage, and how an organization views its long-term window.
One team’s decision to reset the market does not automatically become another team’s obligation.
Kirill Kaprizov's contract might be the opposite of a "Thrill." Credit: Matt Blewett - Imagn Images
Last September, the Minnesota Wild signed Kirill Kaprizov to an eight-year contract carrying a $17 million average annual value, making him the highest-paid player in NHL history at the time. About a month later, the Avalanche signed Martin Necas to an eight-year extension worth $11.5 million annually.
The gap between those two contracts was enormous.
Yet the 2025-26 season showed why contracts cannot be evaluated in isolation.
Both players appeared in 78 games. Kaprizov finished with 45 goals and 44 assists for 89 points, while Necas posted career highs with 38 goals and 62 assists for 100 points — the first 100-point season of his career.
If contracts were based only on the previous season’s production, Colorado would have received the better value.
But that is exactly why comparing contracts one-to-one can be misleading.
Makar’s extension should not be dictated by what another franchise decided to pay its superstar. The Avalanche need to determine what makes sense for their organization, their championship window, and their ability to remain competitive around their franchise defenseman.
There should be no debate about whether Makar deserves to be among the highest-paid players in hockey.
He does.
The two-time Norris Trophy winner has established himself as one of the most dominant defensemen of his generation. His current six-year, $54 million contract — carrying a $9 million annual cap hit — has become one of the best bargains in the NHL.
When Colorado signed Makar to that deal in 2021, the expectation was that he would become the foundation of the franchise’s blue line.
He has become much more than that.
Makar is the type of player every NHL organization hopes to build around. He impacts the game every time he steps onto the ice. He drives offense, controls possession, elevates teammates, and has already played a defining role in bringing a Stanley Cup back to Colorado.
The question is not whether Makar deserves a historic payday.
He does.
The question is how much of Colorado’s salary structure should be committed to one player.
The Kaprizov contract offers an interesting comparison.
Before signing his new deal, Kaprizov carried the same $9 million annual cap hit as Makar currently does. His extension nearly doubled that number, but it also came with a major commitment from Minnesota.
At $17 million per season, Kaprizov’s contract represents roughly 16% of the Wild’s salary cap.
That percentage matters.
The NHL is not won by having the most expensive individual player. It is won by having the strongest team when the games become harder.
The Carolina Hurricanes provided the latest example after winning their second Stanley Cup championship in franchise history. No player on their roster carried a cap hit above $10 million annually, and Sebastian Aho was the only player accounting for more than 10% of the team’s salary cap.
Championship teams require balance.
The reality of the salary cap era is that every dollar committed to one player is a dollar unavailable somewhere else. Injuries happen. Depth gets tested. Playoff opponents expose weaknesses. The teams that survive are usually the ones that have enough quality throughout their lineup to handle those challenges.
Colorado understands that better than most.
The Avalanche’s 2022 championship was not built around one superstar. It was built around elite players at the top of the lineup, reliable depth throughout the roster, and three defensive pairings capable of handling the physical demands of the postseason.
That same formula needs to remain possible after Makar signs his next contract.
This is not an argument that Makar should take less money.
It is not an argument that he has not earned every dollar coming his way.
He has.
Players of Makar’s caliber rarely become available, and the leverage in this negotiation belongs to him. If his priority is maximizing his value, nobody could criticize him for that.
But Makar has also experienced what it takes to win at the highest level.
He knows championships are not won by one player.
They are won by having enough talent around that player.
The Avalanche should not view this extension as simply determining Makar’s next salary. They should view it as determining how many opportunities they have to compete for another Stanley Cup during his prime.
Makar is worth a historic contract.
The challenge is making sure that contract does not limit everything Colorado can build around him.
A deal in the range of $15 million to $16.25 million annually would likely represent the ideal outcome for both sides. Makar would become one of the highest-paid players in NHL history, while Colorado would retain enough flexibility to continue surrounding him with the depth necessary to compete for championships.
Because the biggest question facing the Avalanche is not whether they can afford Cale Makar.
They can.
The question is whether they can afford the roster they need after paying him.
DALLAS, TX - APRIL 12: Moussa Cisse #30 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the game against the Chicago Bulls on April 12, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks have two ways to sign Moussa Cisse to a standard NBA contract.
The first is the Minimum Salary Exception. Teams always have access to the minimum exception unless a hard cap restricts them. Using it, the Mavericks could sign Cisse for up to two years.
The second is to use a portion of the Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception (NT-MLE). Even if they’re only using the minimum salary amount of the exception, they can sign him for up to four years.
Here’s where things get interesting.
If the Mavericks want Cisse to become a restricted free agent (RFA) at the end of his contract, he’ll need to reach free agency with fewer than four years of NBA experience. His season on a two-way contract already counts as one year of NBA experience for minimum salary purposes and RFA eligibility.
That means there are really two clean paths if Dallas wants to preserve the possibility of restricted free agency:
1. Sign him to a two-year contract using the Minimum Salary Exception.
2. Sign him to a three-year contract using a small portion of the NT-MLE with a team option on the third year. If Dallas later wanted to make him an RFA, they would simply decline the team option and issue a qualifying offer.
A couple of related notes:
Dallas can’t structure a contract with multiple option years. So they couldn’t do a 4-year contract with options in year 3 & 4. Only 1st Round Rookie Scale Contracts have that feature.
The Mavericks also can’t replace the option year with a non-guaranteed year and expect the same result. To remove a non-guaranteed season, the team would have to waive the player, and waiving him relinquishes Bird rights and makes him an unrestricted free agent rather than a restricted one. This was the issue with Jalen Brunson’s contract that made him an unrestricted free agent.
I’m not arguing that the Mavericks should choose one path over another. I’m simply laying out what the CBA allows and how each option affects Cisse’s future free agency.
The Atlanta Braves (53-38) beat the Pirates (47-46), 3-0, after Jared Jones had a perfect game going after six innings for Pittsburgh. Atlanta scored twice in the eighth inning and once in the ninth for insurance to seal the win.
The win for Atlanta snapped a three-game losing streak, while the loss did the same for Pittsburgh's three-game winning streak. To start July, Atlanta has had a top five offense, ranking second in runs scored (51), third in home runs (14), and 10th in batting average (.260). The pitching staff has a 5.50 ERA (22nd) as Atlanta has started 4-4 record. The Braves have a three-game road trip to St. Louis this weekend to wrap up the first half of the regular season.
Pittsburgh brought their offense in Wednesday's win, but forget it on Thursday. The Buccos have been shut out seven times this season and in the following game, Pittsburgh has a 3-4 record and averages 4.2 runs per game. During July, the Pirates' offense leads the MLB with a .312 batting average this month, plus 81 hits, 12 stolen bases, and top 10 ranks in OBA, OPS, and SLG. Pittsburgh will host Milwaukee this weekend for a three-game series before the All-Star break.
Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Braves at Pirates
Date: Thursday, July 9, 2026
Time: 12:35 PM EST
Site: PNC Park
City: Pittsburgh, PA
Network/Streaming: MLB TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Braves at the Pirates
The latest odds as of Thursday:
Moneyline: Atlanta Braves (-125), Pittsburgh Pirates (+104)
Spread: Pirates +1.5 (-155), Braves -1.5 (+128)
Total: 9.5
Probable starting pitchers for Braves at Pirates
Thursday's pitching matchup (July 9): Bryce Elder vs. Mitch Keller
The Braves’ Michael Harris III is hitting .307 with 97 hits, 16 home runs and 53 RBI over 316 at-bats
The Braves’ Austin Riley is hitting .210 with 69 hits and 107 strikeouts over 190 at-bats
The Pirates’ Ryan O'Hearn is hitting .293 with 86 hits, 16 home runs, and 61 RBI over 294 at-bats
The Pirates’ Marcell Ozuna is hitting .204 with 44 hits and 74 strikeouts over 216 at-bats
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Braves at Pirates
The Pirates are 47-46 ATS
The Braves are 49-42 ATS, ranking eighth-best
The Pirates are 52-37-3 to the Over, ranking third-best
The Braves are 43-42-6 to the Over
The Pirates are 23-24 ATS at home
The Braves are 26-20 ATS on the road, ranking fifth-best
Expert picks & predictions for today's game between the Braves and the Pirates
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Braves and the Pirates:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Pirates on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Pirates at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Over on the Game Total of 9.5
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CINCINNATI — Don Mattingly expressed interest in returning as the Philadelphia Phillies' manager next season if he was approached by the front office.
“Oh, I would do it,” Mattingly said during an interview with ESPN before an 11-5 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night. “I committed myself to two years with the Phillies when I came over. So whatever (president of baseball operations) Dave (Dombrowski) wants to do in that regard.
"But yeah, I think I would like to do it.”
Mattingly joined the Phillies in January as their bench coach after three seasons in the same role with Toronto. He was elevated to interim manager on April 28 after Rob Thomson was fired.
Philadelphia was 9-19 this season under Thomson, but has gone 43-22 under Mattingly — the second-best mark in the majors since he took over.
The Phillies were 10 1/2 games behind Atlanta in the NL East on May 22, but are only three back of the Braves as well as tied with Miami for the NL's second wild-card spot.
Preston Mattingly — one of Don Mattingly's four sons — is the Phillies’ general manager. It is believed to be the first father-son manager-GM duo in baseball history.
The Jaylen Brown saga has dominated the conversation around the Boston Celtics for the better part of the past month (it feels so much longer, right?), so can we interest you in some honest-to-goodness Celtics basketball?
Boston’s summer league squad descended into the desert this week for what will be at least five games on the campus of UNLV. The Celtics launch into summer action on Friday night against the Toronto Raptors (9 p.m. tipoff, 11:30 p.m replay on NBC Sports Boston).
Here are four things we’ll be watching out west, beyond the continued reaction to Boston’s jarring Brown trade:
Hu-go West, young man
Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Hugo Gonzalez should play a larger role for the Celtics in Year 2.
We’re not sure how much Gonzalez you’ll see in Vegas. He’s fresh off a trip to Spain, where he put his passing and rebounding skills on full display at FIBA qualifying and, even at age 20 and just entering his sophomore NBA season, Gonzalez might soon be graduating from summer league reps.
But given that he played only 19 playoff minutes, it wouldn’t be the worst thing for Gonzalez to get some floor time in Vegas. The Celtics might decide quickly to put him on ice, especially given how important he might be for the team during the 2026-27 season.
With the departure of Brown, there’s a void on Boston’s wing that Gonzalez should get every opportunity to help fill. If the Celtics tread cautiously with Paul George’s workload, Gonzalez could see a healthy boost in playing time after logging 14.6 minutes per game over 74 appearances last season.
If Gonzalez goes full tilt in Vegas, his defense could tie younger players in a pretzel. We’re eager to see if his passing skills can set up easy scoring chances for his fresh-faced teammates. Maybe most importantly, summer league could present an opportunity for Gonzalez to be a focal point of the offense and gain confidence as a scorer.
We’d love to see Gonzalez go check an incoming lottery-pick rookie like Sacramento’s Darius Acuff Jr. or Atlanta’s Kingston Flemings, but we’ll see how much Boston deploys him out west.
Progress from Amari?
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Celtics center Amari Williams is one of the most notable players on Boston’s Summer League roster.
The Celtics weren’t bashful about throwing rookie Amari Williams into some high-pressure situations last season. The 2025 second-round pick (46th overall) got to joust with Detroit’s ultra-physical frontcourt in his first extended NBA minutes in November, then got tossed into a double-overtime pressure cooker against the Nets in January. His efforts in that Brooklyn game helped him earn the first of two spot starts. By February, the Celtics had promoted Williams from a 2-way contract as part of their Salary Cap Tetris that helped the team finish below the luxury tax.
The big question after Williams re-signed with Boston on a 2-way contract this summer: How much progress has he made behind the scenes?
Williams finished with just 148 minutes of playing time over 23 total appearances. His G-League stats popped with Williams averaging 17.9 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks over 29.6 minutes per game in 18 appearances in Maine. That bodes well for being able to compete at summer league.
But has Williams’ offensive game evolved? He showed great defensive instincts but he needs to improve as a finisher to thrive at the NBA level. His strong passing skills and his defensive instincts are obvious but Williams needs to continue to evolve on the offensive end.
The Celtics have been a big-man development factory in recent years with Neemias Queta recently rewarded with a four-year, $56 million extension after starting his own NBA adventure as a 2-way player. Williams needs to maximize these opportunities of extended run with a lot of NBA eyes watching.
First glimpse of rookies
Summer league will be our first pro glimpse at Boston’s rookie tandem of Chris Cenac Jr. (pick 27) and Dillon Mitchell (pick 40).
Cenac Jr. brings an intriguing blend of size (6-foot-11) and length (7-foot-5 wingspan) but the 19-year-old is still very raw. Summer league can be frenetic, even for veteran players, so the Celtics ought to just wind up Cenac Jr. and let him fly around out there. He’ll make mistakes; that’s OK. We’re eager to see his elite rebounding potential and if he’s able to finish lobs around the rim. Cenac Jr. has got all the tools to make an impact at the pro level but it might take time to mold him.
We’re maybe more intrigued by the 6-foot-8 Mitchell, who at 22 and with four years of college basketball under his belt, might have an ability to hit the ground running at the pro level. The Celtics love forwards with plus-wingspans and Mitchell brings freak athleticism including a monster vertical.
We’re not trying to put expectations on the rookie, especially given Boston’s deep wing depth, but the Celtics need an injection of explosiveness. Mitchell’s defensive versatility could help distinguish him from other younger players at summer league.
We can’t help but think ahead to practice battles where Mitchell, Jordan Walsh, and Ron Harper Jr. are out there causing utter chaos with their length, as all of them try to carve out their own NBA roles.
Can anyone else state a case?
John Tonje, the 53rd pick in the 2025 draft and acquired from Utah in the Chris Boucher trade in February, was another key piece in Boston’s Salary Cap Jenga. He briefly got promoted to the parent roster in February before returning to a 2-way deal in March.
The 6-foot-4 Tonje is a certified scorer and will get plenty of opportunity to be an offensive focal point in Vegas. He wasn’t bashful in Boston’s regular-season finale against Orlando, getting up 12 shots, including eight beyond the 3-point arc.
Stop us if you’ve heard this about a Celtics prospect before: He’s got a plus-wingspan and a sturdy linebacker-like frame (listed as 6-foot-5, 225 pounds). Tonje needs to show he can contribute beyond scoring for the Celtics to continue to invest in his future.
Invariably, someone else on the summer league roster will become a Summer Sweetheart.
Mohammad Amini is yet another big wing with a plus wingspan that lands on Boston’s roster with an offensive-minded scouting report. Tucker DeVries is a shot maker who averaged 21.6 points per game as a junior at Drake before wrapping up his college career with stops at West Virginia and Indiana.
Someone in summer league is going to steal your heart and, maybe just maybe, they’ll land in Maine so the Celtics can nurture their development in the G-League.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JULY 6: Cameron Boozer #27 of the Memphis Grizzlies boxes out Jonas Aidoo #50 of the Utah Jazz during the second half of a 2026 NBA Salt Lake City Summer League game at the Jon M Huntsman Center on July 6, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. ( Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images) | Getty Images
Brian Scalabrine has an interesting history with Duke Basketball. When he was at USC, the Trojans lost to Duke in the 2001 Elite Eight, 79-69. That Duke team went on to win the national championship.
He was never a great NBA player, but Scalabrine played 11 years and was respected. He spent five seasons with the Boston Celtics, then rejoined the Celtics organization as a broadcaster after his retirement.
He was the first notable person to recognize Cooper Flagg’s talent, telling him that the only question about his potential was how hard he was willing to work to be great.
“He’s going to help the team win. He’s not just a glue guy; he’s actually going to be a player you can go to in certain situations. He’s an excellent passer; he’s not Jokić, but he has the ball in his hands, and you cut, it’s a good chance you’re going to get the ball.”
That’s certainly true. He’s not going to be Tim Duncan revisited, but he has a lot in common, most notably superb fundamentals. He’s the kid in camp who listened to every detail, then went home and perfected it all.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 30: Ranger Suarez #55 of the Boston Red Sox and Sonny Gray #54 of the Boston Red Sox collect donations for Venezuela earthquake relief efforts on Jersey Street before a game against the Washington Nationals on June 30, 2026 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With less than one month until the trade deadline, the silly season of rumors are starting to swirl and while some of those “extrapolations” are purely for the views, this report by Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic hypothesizes that if the Boston Red Sox decide to sell, starting pitcher Sonny Gray would be an “intriguing match” for the Atlanta Braves.
Gray, who is now 36, has seemingly been an omnipresent player in trade or free agency wishes for a large contingent of Braves fans for years given that he lives in Nashville and attended Vanderbilt University. But, for whatever reasons, the pairing has yet to occur.
Rosenthal and Sammon reason that a match of Gray and the Braves is viable because Gray holds a full no-trade clause which could limit Boston’s options if – and this a big if – they decide to sell. Another favorable line-item for a Gray deal is that he would be owed approximately $6M should he be trade since Grays previous employer, the St. Louis Cardinals, are covering half of his salary this season.
The important context of their report is that this was sourced information, as noted below.
The Atlanta Braves are one of several rotation-needy teams expressing interest in Boston Red Sox starter Sonny Gray, according to people familiar with the situation who were not authorized to speak freely on the topic.
The Athletic’s duo do float the plausibility that Atlanta could make a play for Tarik Skubal, the pending free agent starter of the Detroit Tigers, but that isn’t based on intel.
In the same report, they double-down on their prior reporting that the Kansas City Royals are not going to trade starting pitchers Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo. If the Royals, despite their record, hold on to those two pitchers – the starting pitching market will be reduced significantly for all buyers.
For early June, this is a notable rumor, but take this with a grain of salt. A big grain of salt.
CAMDEN, NJ - JUNE 25: Labaron Philon Jr. #00 of the Philadelphia 76ers talks to the media during the Philadelphia 76ers press conference introducing Labaron Philon Jr. on June 25, 2026 at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden, NJ NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After an excruciatingly long two months, Philadelphia 76ers basketball is (kind of) back in our lives. The Summer Sixers open play in Las Vegas against the Detroit Pistons. As a refresher, here’s the roster T.J. Dileo will be running out there for the Sixers.
It’s an extremely young group, with everyone a rookie in terms of NBA experience aside from 2025 35th overall pick Johni Broome. Broome had a disappointing rookie year cut short due to a torn meniscus in his right knee suffered in February. Summer League will be the start of his chance to show he’s worthy of spending time with the big club this season more often than Delaware.
Of course, the headliner and the main source of excitement for this roster from Sixers fans is 22nd overall pick Labaron Philon. The 20-year-old guard out of Alabama will enter a crowded Sixers backcourt featuring Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and free agent acquisition Anfernee Simons. We’ll begin to see how far along Philon is in his development against NBA-level competition and whether he’ll project for a solidified spot in Nick Nurse’s rotation.
On the opposing sideline, here’s the Pistons’ Summer League roster.
Pistons fans will be keeping a close eye on 17th overall pick Ebuka Okorie out of Stanford. Big man Ugonna Onyenso was selected with the 53rd overall pick and was signed to a two-way contract. Chaz Lanier was a second-round pick for the Pistons last season; he appeared in 34 games for Detroit in his rookie campaign.
Can the Summer Sixers string together some wins and be one of the top four teams to advance to the Vegas Summer League semifinals? We’ll begin to find out in the late afternoon/early evening.
Game Details
When: July 9, 5:30 p.m. ET Where: Cox Pavilion, Las Vegas, NV Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus, Prime Video Follow:@LibertyBallers
ORLANDO, FL - JUNE 18: Sean Sweeney talks to the media during a press conference to introduce Sweeney as the new head coach of the Orlando Magic on June 18, 2026 at AdventHealth Training Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Before the 2025-2026 NBA season came to a close, the San Antonio Spurs knew they were losing Sean Sweeney. The associate head coach spent one season with the Silver & Black after leaving the Dallas Mavericks to support Mitch Johnson in his first official season at the helm.
Throughout the tectonic shifts that transpire in the interim of NBA seasons which include the draft, free agency, and Summer League some staff changes get lost in the mix. Sweeney is gone and he took some pieces of the Spurs coaching staff.
Assistant video coordinator Jon Harris is on the move to Orlando, he recently shared his excitement online.
Couldn’t have asked for a better experience these past 4 years in San Antonio with an amazing organization with unbelievable people. I am appreciative of everyone on the staff who helped me along the way. Excited for this next chapter with the Orlando Magic! pic.twitter.com/ILi4Y9K5DJ
Nicholas Russo has also exited San Antonio for Orlando. He will serve as Manager of Basketball Strategy for the Orlando Magic.
Sean Sweeney also quietly added a quasi-front office type guy in Nick Russo as "Manager of Basketball Strategy", who went through Spurs boot camp and has salary cap experience/training: https://t.co/96fe1K5msHpic.twitter.com/7O0D2L74NB
In the wake of the Sweeney hired, the Spurs brought in Billy Donovan, fresh off this sixth season with the Chicago Bulls. Donovan’s son previously coached alongside Johnson in 2017 with the Austin Spurs.
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The Detroit Tigers are on a roll as the All-Star break approaches, notching their fifth win of July and seventh in the last eight games after securing a 6-2 win over the Athletics on Tuesday night. Troy Melton set a new career high in strikeouts with nine while allowing just an unearned run over just over five frames of work, while home runs by Jack Rogers and Spencer Torkelson paced the Motor City Kitties on offense.
Taking the mound in the series finale for the Tigers is left-hander Framber Valdez, who has struggled to keep runners from crossing the plate over his last two appearances. After a four-game stretch that saw him post a 2.45 ERA and 4.03 FIP across 22 innings, the 32-year-old surrendered nine runs on 18 hits (two home runs) — but just two walks — over 11 frames with a loss to show for it.
For the Athletics, right-hander Jack Perkins will climb the hill for his seventh start of the 2026 campaign. The 26-year-old has struggled since moving to the rotation, posting an 8.10 ERA, 5.44 FIP and 1.69 WHIP over those 26 2/3 frames of work, giving up seven home runs while striking out 34 to 14 walks.
As a reliever, Perkins’ ERA was still a bloated 5.46, but his FIP sat at a tidy 2.62 and his WHIP at 1.21 over 28 innings. Maybe the starting gig is not the best use of the second-year hurler’s talents.
Here is how Valdez and Perkins match up on Thursday evening as Detroit looks for its second sweep in the past three series.
Detroit Tigers (42-50) vs. Athletics (41-51)
Time (ET): 6:40 p.m. Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan SB Nation Site:Athletics Nation Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 93: LHP Framber Valdez (4-6, 4.29 ERA) vs. RHP Jack Perkins (2-4, 6.75 ERA)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 26: (NEW ORK DAILIES OUT) Luis Robert Jr. #88 of the New York Mets in action against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field on April 26, 2026 in New York City. The Rockies defeated the Mets 3-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Game one of their doubleheader was a drubbing, as the Mets went up in the top of the first and held the lead throughout. Christian Arroyo and Cristian Pache drove in those runs in the first, on an RBI double and single respectively. Christopher Morel made it 4-0 in the third with a two run home run. Norfolk scored two of their three runs in the bottom of the third, but a five run fifth (with runs scored on a throwing error, Ryan Clifford single and Morel double) put the game out of reach.
Interestingly, Zach Thornton threw two perfect innings and was pulled from the game. He will be a name to keep an eye on over the next few days.
Game two was much less fun for the Mets, as they lost the game late. They opened the game with a two spot, again, this time with Ryan Clifford hitting a two run homer. Norfolk scored one in the bottom of the first, and that 2-1 score held until the sixth inning, when Christian Encarnacion-Strand hit a two run double to put Norfolk ahead 3-2, the eventual final score.
RF Ji Hwan Bae: 0-2, R, BB, 2 SB (30, 31)
CF Nick Morabito: 0-2, BB, 2 K
LF MJ Melendez: 0-3, K
DH Ryan Clifford: 1-3, R, HR (15), 2 RBI
2B Yonny Hernández: 1-3
C Ben Rortvedt: 0-3, K
SS Vidal Bruján: 0-3, K
1B Christopher Morel: 0-3
3B Zack Short: 0-1, BB, K
RHP Ben Simon: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
LHP Joe Jacques: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Joey Gerber: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, H (2)
LHP Matt Turner: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, BS (1), L (1-1)
LHP Nate Lavender: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Well, as you can imagine, a 13-4 game was not very competitive from a Binghamton point of view. Hartford scored six runs in the second inning, which was really all they needed since Binghamton just put together four runs in the game. Binghamton actually had a fair amount of hits (11), but left ten men on base and simply could not keep up with the offensive onslaught from Hartford.
Luis Robert Jr. did go 2-4 in a rehab assignment, as he inches closer back to a crowded outfield in Queens, with Juan Soto playing at an MVP level alongside the two highly performing rookies in A.J. Ewing and Carson Benge.
REHAB ALERT: CF Luis Robert Jr.: 2-4, R, K
PH-2B Nick Roselli: 0-1, K
RF-CF Jose Ramos: 1-5, R, HR (13), 2 RBI, 2 K
3B Nick Lorusso: 2-4, R, HR (15), RBI, BB
1B JT Schwartz: 3-5, R, 2B, K
DH-C Kevin Parada: 0-5, K
C-LF Vincent Perozo: 2-4, RBI
SS-P Wyatt Young: 0-4
2B-SS Nick Lucky: 0-4, K, E (1)
LF-RF Jaylen Palmer: 1-2, 2 BB
LHP Max Green: 2.2 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, L (0-1), E (2)
Brooklyn scored the first run of the game on a John Bay RBI single in the first, and were promptly shut out from there. They scattered eight hits across the game, but went just 2-11 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base. The one run did not hold, obviously, as starter Jose Chirinos surrendered two runs, and reliever Hunter Hodges surrendered two runs as well.
SS Mitch Voit: 1-5, K
CF Yonatan Henriquez: 1-4, 2B, 3 K
C Ronald Hernandez: 0-3, R, BB, K
1B Corey Collins: 2-4, 2B, 2 K, E (4)
RF John Bay: 1-4, RBI, K
DH Daiverson Gutierrez: 2-4, SB (3)
2B Jamari Baylor: 0-3, BB, SB (3)
3B Colin Houck: 0-4, 3 K
LF Trace Willhoite: 1-3, K
RHP Jose Chirinos: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, L (1-4)
RHP Hoss Brewer: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Jupiter and St. Lucie went back and forth from the jump in this one. Jupiter ran out to a 2-0 lead in the first, only for the Mets to score two in the second, by way of a Branny De Oleo single and Jeremy Rodriguez ground out. A Trey Snyder single in the third made it 3-2, and a throwing error on a Snyder stolen base in the sixth made it 4-2 Mets. Jupiter came roaring back in the bottom of the seventh, scoring three runs and taking a 5-4 lead, which they held onto.
SS Antonio Jimenez: 2-3, R, 2B, BB, K, SB (13), E (2)
DH Elian Peña: 0-4
CF Trey Snyder: 3-4, R, RBI, 2 SB (11, 12)
1B Julio Zayas: 0-3, BB, 2 K, E (8)
C Chase Meggers: 0-4, R, 2 K
3B Branny De Oleo: 1-4, R, RBI, 3 K
RF Simon Juan: 0-3, BB
2B Jeremy Rodriguez: 1-4, RBI
LF Taylor Darden: 0-2, BB, SB (3)
PH Jackson Hauge: 0-1
LHP Luis R. Rodriguez: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 WP
RHP Tyler McLoughlin: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
RHP Joel Díaz: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, H (1)
RHP Joel Lara: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, BS (1), L (0-2)
RHP Ernesto Mercedes: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
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